Cannon Hall

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Leanne

Trip to Cannon Hall was in order. I wanted to go in the Maize Maze, because I’m actually 8, but we didn’t have time.

Also, my dogs hate me.

Well, maybe not. But looking at their group portrait shots, you would think so. Kim is thinking how she can maybe kill me in my sleep, Dylan is thinking bad thoughts that probably amount to “I’ll maybe hide one of my toys, that will show you” and Mollie … well, Mollie’s probably not plotting my downfall, and is actually planning to decapitate all the flowers in front of her with misplaced enthusiasm when released from her wait. Mollie’s was the only successful plan.

Girls were very tired after playing frisbee all across the estate, and Dyl was tired because it’s exhausting being stressed. Actually, Dylan did really well. We did some basic BAT retreats from a stressed Westie who was defending his 50ft space bubble, which relaxed him enough to be able to walk past later (no option to go another way, unfortunately), and then greeted some well-mannered Labradors politely and briefly. One minor meltdown which resulted in some barking and major retreating when a Golden Retreiver with a flexi-lead attached came flying down the gravel path, being chased by two young boys, but to be honest I wasn’t awfully relaxed about that one either! Positive reactions to the two small terriers we met later anyway, by ignoring and circling away.

Langsett

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Leanne

This is the first time we’ve walked Langsett. We’ll be back again, I now understand why it’s so popular!

We walked the three mile route as we didn’t know the area at all and didn’t want to get lost. The map in the car park said it would take 2hrs and we were a little concerned that it would be very hilly from that kind of estimate, but it really wasn’t and we walked it in an easy hour with a couple of five minute breaks. Think we’ll go the long way round the resevoir next time!

The dogs enjoyed themselves; Kim spent most of the time crashing through the undergrowth chasing rabbits and squirrels, and the collies spent most of the time on the path or in the muddiest puddles they could find.

We met quite a few people and not many dogs, but we passed everyone by without a problem (except for a small scared Spaniel who did bark frenetically until we’d passed, but everyone ignored him). Mollie did manage to terrify a small child about ten minutes in, thankfully with sensible parents. The little girl put her hands together, palms outwards, in a greeting pose as Mollie was walking past. Mol loves children, and so on seeing this she walked over very gently, slowly wagging tail and her friendly face on and touched her nose into the little girl’s hands. I don’t know if she maybe licked her, or if the girl just didn’t like the feel of Mol’s nose, but the little girl shrieked like a banshee and burst into tears accompanied by proper screams. Mollie immediately moved away and got a cuddle from the girl’s father instead, which reassured the other little boy and left me happy as well. I kind of wish we’d been able to stop and let the little girl meet Mollie again, but I wasn’t brave enough to suggest it and Kim and Dylan were keen to move on as they don’t like children (too unpredicatable, like puppies!)

There were poems carved into the tops of the benches all the way around; I didn’t get photos of all of them but I bet they’re out on the internet somewhere!

Sunny Day at the Lake

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Leanne

It was really very hot today. Hot = swimming! We took the dogs up to Digley just so they could spend all afternoon cooling off.

Well. Dylan and Mollie swam. Kim didn’t. She was bossy and neurotic and demanding about the ball being thrown, but then declined to go in and fetch it.

I’m hoping this weather breaks before the weekend, both Kim and Mollie are scheduled to do some agility at Midland Counties and I’d like to let them both run. If it’s too hot, they’re going to have to stay cool and bored in the car!

Honley Woods

Posted on May 14, 2010 by Leanne

I shouldn’t have even bothered taking my camera; the lighting was awful! Overcast skies + twilight = not good for photos of moving dogs.

Still, look at Mollie’s smiley face!

Dylan is getting really irritating on walks, I keep wanting to smack him round the head! He is generally pretty independent when we’re out and about, not so much as the girls’ but happy to go off and do his own thing. But as soon as I take off the lens cap, he’s right there in front of me. Almost touching.

Ever played that “not touching” game when you’re a kid? That’s what it’s like.

You can’t tell, but in all these photos, he’s about 2 inches away from the lens, giving me the Eye. Incidentally, this is why I’m never getting another Border Collie. They drive you insane, like they are.

Kim is thoroughly enjoying being out and about again, she’s off-lead 95% of the time at the moment. We’re slowly starting to put some real muscle back onto her, but it’s taking time. I’d like to do some hydrotherapy with her but the pool we used to go to isn’t available at the moment, and she hates swimming. Maybe I can throw her in the sea at Redcar?

We set off on Sunday morning for Hare’n'Hounds, Dylan and I are competing all week and the girls are coming up for Waldridge Fell. Kim is running with Cat, which should be fun!

Hoards of Killer Bees

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Leanne

It seemed like a good idea at the time. However. Walking through waist high banks of heather in spring? BEES. Bees everywhere. I got all of four pictures in the heather, before the hoards of angry bees began circling my head and we fled.

So we spent a lot of time at the river, avoiding the bees.

There were very few complaints, except perhaps by Kim. Kim spent the whole walk on lead, as she’s still supposed to be taking it easy after her chiro treatment at the weekend. We only argued two or three hundred times, it’s ok. She was not happy with the bees either, but I’m actually glad she was on the lead as she does try and eat them. Bees are not so down with that.

The dogs were actually very well behaved; there is a lot of livestock at the edges of the valley, but all well protected by walls and solid gates, and we avoided almost all of it. Dylan did spend a while desperately trying to herd chickens through a fence (chickens are the only think he will actually try to herd anyway. Anything bigger than a chicken in worrying). We also avoided unexpected horses, even Mollie! Mollie doesn’t do livestock, she barks too much, but she just trotted alongside the horses for a while and then came back.*

*I should probably mention that the horses didn’t care, the riders didn’t care, and I didn’t let her do this. But Mollie apparently has some horse sense … who knew?!